Re: Paying for the listserv

[slm5v <slm5v -at- CC -dot- USU -dot- EDU>]

Morning, everyone.

  I don't post often to this list, but when I do, I hope I add something
meaningful to the discussion. I am currently a tech-writing student at Utah
State, in Logan, Utah. I first became familiar with the list during a
class--the professor made us sign up. After the semester was over, I would
guess maybe 90-95% of my classmates cancelled their subscriptions. I didn't,
and I've been introduced to aspects of this industry I never would have
received in the classroom. I've even come to the list for help, and received
timely, accurate, impressive advice. Thanks all!

  My point? The argument over whether or not students can pay for a
subscription should be treated as if they were buying another textbook.
Every
semester, I MUST spend $200-400 for texts, whether I think they're valuable
or
not. I dutifully do the assignments for the semester, and when finals are
over, I sell my texts back to the bookstore (where I'm lucky to get 35% of
the
cover price). If students spend only $10 a semester to join, and don't feel
any benefit from the list, they're out $10. If they buy a useless text,
written by their professor, they could be out a whole lot more. But, if they
realize the value of the list (like I have), they'll be so much the richer.

My three cents . . .

Graham Fredrickson

"Into each life some rain must fall--what I wouldn't give for an umbrella."
--me.

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